Apparatus for delasting footwear



May 7, 1968 R. A. SPENCE APPARATUS FOR DELASTING FOOTWEAR 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed May 7, 1965 E mm W 0 WM m A M m J B I w M i M y 1968 R. A. SPENCE 3,381,323

APPARATUS FOR DELASTING FOOTWEAR Original Filed May 7, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ROBERTA. SPENCE INVENTOR dm, A1 4 6% ATTORNEYS May 7, 1968 R. A. SPENCE 3,381,323

APPARATUS FOR DELASTING FOOTWEAR Original Filed May 7, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

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I26 (62:6 124 w \ill/ v Q 9 ROBERT A. spa/c5 B INVENTOR 6 ATTO R NEY United States Patent O 3,381,323 APPARATUS FOR DELASTING FOOTWEAR Robert A. Spence, Lincoln, Mass., assignor to Bain Corporation, Brookline, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Original application May 7, 1965, Ser. No. 453,933. Divided and this application May 2, 1967, Ser. No.

25 Claims. (Cl. 1215.1)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This application is a division of my copend-ing application Ser. No. 453,933 filed May 7, 1965.

This invention generally relates to footwear manufacture and more particularly to an improved apparatus for removing footwear from a last.

Facilitated removal of footwear, such as an assembled shoe, from a last has been an unattained desideratum in the shoe industry for a long time. Past delasting procedures were normally accomplished manually requiring considerable effort, particularly when a shoe had been pulled tightly over and around the last during the lasting operation.

Various procedures have been devised to assist the operator in separating a last from a shoe, one such procedure employing pneumatic pressure introduced between the last and the shoe to initially separate the same as more fuliy disclosed in United States Patents No, 3,106,730 and No. 3,107,354, concurrently issued on Oct. 15, 1963. While this pneumatic delasting procedure represents a significant advancement toward a facilitated delasting procedure, it has at times required supplemental manual effort in initially separating the shoe from the last thus reducing the efficiency of the operation. This inefiiciency has been found to stem from leakage or loss of the penumatic pressure between the shoe and the last.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for removing a shoe from a last by pneumatic pressure but which overcomes the aforedescribed problems to provide a delasting operation which is highly efiicient.

A further object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for delasting a shoe by penumatic pressure or the like, loss of which between the shoe and last is restricted to produce an improved delasting operation requiring no manual efiort to initially separate the shoe from the last.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for removing footwear from a last, which apparatus is thoroughly reliable, effective and completely automatic in operation, relatively simple in construction While being adaptable to varied conditions encountered in the manufacture of footwear.

Other objects and the entire scope of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals refer to similar parts throughout and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view taken from the front left side of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention; 7

FIGURE 2 is a partial perspective view of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1 showing a shoe positioned for separation from a last;

FIGURE 3 is a partial perspective view taken from the front of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 2 during the clamping cycle of operation;

FIGURE 4 is a partial perspective view taken from the right side of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a partial perspective view taken from above the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a partial perspective view taken from the right side of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 5 during the cycle of operation where the shoe and last are separated;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmental plan view of the clamping assembly illustrated in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along lines 88 of FIGURE7;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmental elevational view of the clamping mechanism illustrated in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE lOis a schematic diagram of the pneumatic circuitry employed with the illustrated apparatus;

FIGURE 11 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuitry employed with the illustrated apparatus; and

FIGURE 12 is a diagram illustrating the sequence of operation performed by the apparatus.

Summary of operation Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURES 1 to 6, a lasted shoe generally identified by the numeral 10 is mounted on a last supporting heel pin 50 located in the delasting station of the machine. Loading of the lasted shoe serves to actuate the electrical control circuit of the apparatus generally designated by the numeral 220, which in turn regulates operation of the penumatic power station 200 and associated mechanical linkages causing the oppositely disposed clamping assemblies 64 and 66 to move into cooperative engagement 'with the contoured sides of the lasted shoe 10 in order to effect .a pneumatic seal for restricting leakage of air during the pneumatic delasting operation more fully described in United States Patents No. 3,106,730 and No. 3,107,354 concurrently granted on Oct, 15, 1963, as well as Reissue Patent No. 25,529 granted Mar. 3, 1964, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein as a part hereof by reference. While air is being injected under pressure between the interior of the lasted shoe 10 and bottom portion of the last 30, a pneumatic seal is formed between the last and related interior sides of the shoe due to the external pressure being applied by the clamping assemblies 64 and 66. By substantially reducing air leakage, a significant increase of pneumatic pressure is obtained within the lasted shoe during the delasting operation.

As the internal force of the pneumatic pressure increases in magnitude, the heel portion of the lasted shoe is urged upwardly relative to the heel portion 32 of the last in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6 without destroying the established pneumatic seal due to the associated movement of the rear pressure pads 74 and 78 carried by the respective clamping assemblies 64 and 66.

Upon completion of the delasting operation, the electrical control circuit will automatically interrupt any further injection of compressed air as well as reactivate the pneumatic power station 200 to retract the clamping assemblies 64 and 66 so that the operator can break the last in a conventional manner and remove the shoe. After the last has been withdrawn from the delasting station 100, the electrical control circuit is automatically reset for initiation of another cycle of operation.

Whenever desired, two of these units can be utilized in a dual installation to permit the simultaneous delasting of a shoe in one section while unloading a previously delasted shoe from the other section.

General description Referring now more specifically to the apparatus illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 9, the tubular last supporting heel pin 50 is adjustably supported on a telescoping standard 52 which includes an inner tubular member 82 slidably mounted within an outer tubular casing 84 mounted on deck plate 54 which in turn is supported on the frame 56 of the machine. The inner tube 82 and supporting heel pin 50 may be vertically adjusted for height with respect to the outer tube 84 by means of set screw 86. The lower end 88 of the inner tube 82 is connected to a suitable supply of compressed air 230, as illustrated diagrammatically in FIGURE to provide a pneumatic passageway for the air extending through the inner tube 82 and associated heel pin 50.

The frame 56 of the machine contains a suitable structural support for the deck plate 54, delasting station 100, pneumatic power station 200 and electrical control section 220. As shown in FIGURE 1, the pneumatic station 200 includes an air operated cylinder 90 carrying a reciprocating piston rod 91 which supports a cross-head bar 92. The cross-head bar 92 in turn is pivotally intercon nected at each end with push rods 94 and 96 which contain unibal swivel rod ends 104 and 106 at their respective upper ends (FIGURE 3). A clamping assembly located adjacent delasting station 160 includes a left clamp arm 68 and right clamp arm 70 which are independently mounted at one end on respective pivot pins 108 and 110 carried by related bearing supports 112 and 114, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. The unibal rod ends 104 and 106 are pivotally interconnected to the respective lower leg portions of arms 68 and 70 in such a manner that actuation of the compressed air cylinder 90 causes the reciprocating piston rod 91 and associated crosshead bar 92 to move upwardly thereby rotating arm 68 in a clockwise direction about pin 108 and arm 70 in a counterclockwise direction about pin 110, as viewed in FIGURE 3.

Mounted adjacent the respective ends of the upwardly extending leg portions of left clamp arm 68 and right clamp arm 70 are the left and right clamping mechanisms 64 and 66 which contain a series of pivotally interconnected plates disposed pyramidly to support pressure pads 72, 74, 76 and 78, mechanisms 64 and 66 are adjustably mounted on arms 68 and 70 by means of interlocked mounting plates 116 and 118 which are arranged to sup port hinge blocks 120 and 122, respectively. In turn, hinge blocks 120 and 122 support associated hinge block pins 124 and 126 on which left and right trunnion blocks 128 and 130 are pivotally mounted. Adjustably mounted on the forward face of trunnion blocks 128 and 130, are left and right pad mounting blocks 132 and 134 to which are fixed hinges 140 and 141 that support left and right front pad assemblies generally indicated by numerals 136 and 138, respectively. Hinges 140 and 141 support the left and right front intermediate plates 142 and 144 that carry front and rear hinges 146 and 148 which in turn support left and right front forward and rear pressure blocks 150, 152, 154 and 156 of the left and right front pad assemblies 136 and 138, respectively.

Referring now to FIGURES 5, 7, 8 and 9, pressure blocks 150, 152, 154 and 156 present contoured faces toward the shoe which are alternately convex and concave in cross-section. Left and right hinge arms 162 and 164 are pivotally mounted on the left and right trunnion pins 166 and 168 within a slot located in trunnion blocks 128 and 130, respectively. Stop bars 170 are alfixed to the upper surfaces of the left and right hinge arms 162 and 164 to prevent the same from dropping downwardly in slots 160 formed in trunnion blocks 128 and 130. The stops 170, however, permit left and right hinge arms 162 and 164 to rotate freely upwardly on left and right trunnion pins 166 and 168, respectively. Projecting rearwardly from the vertical faces of left and right trunnion blocks 128 and 130 are left and right roll cam followers 172 and 174 which contact the respective outward vertical faces of hinge arms 162 and 164 to take up any outwardly directed thrust force. Mounted on the inward rear vertical faces of the left and right hinge arms 162 and 164 are hinges 176 which carry the vertical left and right rear intermediate plates 178 and 180. Mounted on the inward face of each rear intermediate plates 178 and 180 are a related pair of hinges 182, each supporting a separate pressure block. Thus, left rear inside pressure block 184, left rear outside pressure block 186, right rear inside pressure block 168, and right rear outside pressure block are individually supported by a related hinge 182 which in turn is supported by either the left or right rear intermediate plates 178 and 180. Coil springs 194 are affixed to the adjacent vertical outside surfaces of intermediate plates 142 and 178 in order to maintain their respective alignment when the left clamp mechanism 64 is in the open retracted position. A similar coil spring is attached to the right hand intermediate plates 144 and 180 to preserve their relative alignment when the right clamp mechanism 66 is in the open retracted position.

Affixed to the outer extremities of the inside surfaces of the eight pressure blocks are four pressure pads which are preferably of foam rubber. Left front pressure pad 72 is carried by pressure blocks 150 and 152, while the left rear pressure pad 74 is carried by pressure blocks 184 and 186. Right front pressure pad 76 is carried by pressure blocks 154 and 156 while the right rear pressure pad 78 is carried by pressure blocks 188 and 190. The left front pad assembly 136 may be adjusted vertically by means of the bolt fasteners 133 passing through an elongated slot 135 in left pad mounting block 132 and received in related trunnion block 128. Similarly the right front pad assembly 138 may be adjusted vertically by the fasteners 133 located between the right pad mounting block 134 and the right trunnion block 130. The left rear pad assembly 206 may be rotated upwardly about the left trunnion pin 166, causing coil spring 194 to flex While maintaining the relative longitudinal alignment between intermediate plates 142 and 178 in the open retracted position of the left clamp mechanism 64. Similarly the right rear pad assembly may be rotated upwardly about the right trunnion pin 168, flexing spring 194 while maintaining the relative longitudinal alignment between intermediate plates 144 and 180 when the right clamp mechanism 66 is in the open retracted position.

As illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 11, a load sensing microswitch 58 is mounted on a vertically adjustable microswitch support 210 secured to deck plate 54. Load sensing microswitch 58 is normally open and mechanically actuated by a load sensing microswitch rod 212 which is adjusted so that microswitch 58 will close and complete an electrical actuating circuit when the rod tip 214, located immediately in front of the heel pin 50 is depressed downwardly by last 32. Another trigger microswitch 60, as illustrated in FIGURES 3, 6 and 11, is mounted for vertical adjustment on a trigger microswitch support 218 secured to deck plate 54 and mechanically actuated by trigger microswitch rod 222. Trigger microswitch 60 is also a normally open microswitch having an adjustable rod tip 224 located immediately to the rear of heel pin 50 approximately A above the heel pin base 226 so as to cause microswitch 60 to close electrically when depressed downwardly by last 32. As shown in FIGURE 1, the various components of pneumatic power station 200 are mounted within the frame 56 of the machine above a compartment housing the electrical control equipment 220. As schematically illustrated in FIGURE 11, main sw itch 62 and indicator light 63 are connected to a suitable electrical source of 115 volts, 60 cycle, AC which is supplied through fuse cutouts 228 to terminals 232 and 234 mounted on a shelf 236 supported by frame 56 of the machine in the manner shown in FIGURE 1. Also mounted on shelf 236 is timer assembly 238, which includes a timer motor and adjustable multiple cam drive 240 which operates timer cam and associated microswitch 242, clamp cam and associated microswitch 244, and air blast cam and associated microswitch 246. Timer assembly 238 actuates the associated microswitches 242, 244 and 246 on a continuous cycle rate of approximately 4 seconds per cycle, as outlined in the diagram of FIGURE 12.

As illustrated in FIGURES 1, and 11, pneumatic power station 200, which is located within the supporting frame 56 of the machine and connected to a supply of compressed air 230 of about 80-100 pounds per square inch gage through suitable pneumatic circuit interconnections, includes: an air cylinder 90 with reciprocating piston 91, an adjustable air flow regulator 252, a normally open cylinder control valve 254, a normally closed cylinder control valve 256, a normally closed thruway electric solenoid valve 258 whose actuating solenoid 260 is electrically interconnected with microswitch 244 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 11, as well as a normally closed two-way solenoid valve 262 whose solenoid 264 is electrically actuated by air blast microswitch 246.

Sequence of operation With reference to the apparatus illustrated in FIG- URES 1 thru 9, main switch 62 is first closed by the operator which energizes indicator light 63 and terminals 232 and 234 beyond fuse cut outs 228. Then a lasted shoe 10 mounted on last is presented to the delasting station 100 of the machine. The heel portion 32 of the last contains a mating thimble 34 which is slipped over the heel pin in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 11. The heel portion 32 of the last 30 contacts the load sensing actuating rod 212 and deflects the rod tip 214 downwardly as pin 50 enters thimble 34, which serves to actuate microswitch 58. When the heel portion 32 of last 30 is fully seated on the heel pin 50, microswitch is actuated by the deflection of trigger microswitch actuating rod tip 224.

As schematically illustrated in FIGURE 11, actuating microswitches 58 and 60 energize timer motor 249 and its associated cam drive closing timer microswitch 242 to actuate relay 248 which also energizes relay 250. Timer assembly motor 240 also actuates microswitches 244 and 246 through its cam drive in the sequence diagrammatically illustrated in FIGURE 12. Actuating microswitch 244 energizes solenoid 260 of clamp solenoid valve 258, permitting a supply of compressed air to actuate cylinder control valves 254 and 256, which in turn operate pneumatic cylinder 90, as shown in FIG- URE 10. Flow control valve 259, between cylinder control valve 254 and cylinder 90, can be adjusted to control the rate of operation of cylinder 90.

Operation of pneumatic cylinder advances piston 91 outwardly moving the associated crosshead bar 92 and interconnecting push rods 94 and 96 upwardly which cause arms 68 and 70 of the left and right clamp assemblies 64 and 66 to pivot about pins 108 and 110 and close against the sides of the lasted shoe 10 in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 3, 4 and 5. As the opposing clamping assemblies 64 and 66 move transversely from a retracted position toward each other, rear pressure blocks 184, 186, 188 and as well as front pressure blocks 150, 152, 154 and 156 press the associated front and rear pads 72, 74, 76 and 78 against the contoured sides of the shoe under the sole 12 and heel 14. The interconnecting hinges of each clamp assembly permit anequal distribution of pressure among all of the pressure blocks so that when the pressure pads are forced against the side of the lasted shoe, each pad will assume a position that substantially conforms with the contour of the shoe side regardless of length or width of the shoe.

After the left and right clamp mechanisms 64 and 66 have been pressed against the sides of the shoe, microswitch 246 actuates solenoid 264 to open blast solenoid valve 262 and permit an unreduced supply of compressed air to pass through the tubular heel pin 50. An interconnecting air passageway 36 leading from the top of the last heel thimble 34 to the bottom surface of the last 330 permits the air being ejected by the tubular heel pin 50 to enter the interior of the lasted shoe in a manner more fully described in the disclosure of aforementioned patents.

While specific reference will be made hereinafter to the utilization of an adhesive material in the manufacture and assembly of footwear on a last, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited in any way to the type of insole securing means employed since it is possible to utilize a conventional fastener during the lasting operation as long as it is removed prior to the delasting sequence being performed by the apparatus disclosed herein.

In the past, a charge of compressed air interposed between the foot contacting surface of a lasted shoe and the bottom surface of the last could escape to atmosphere due to the flexural expansion of the shoe sides away from the last causing a substantial reduction of pressure within the shoe interior. By exerting an external pressure against the exterior sides of a lasted shoe, lateral expansion of the shoe is reduced to restrict escape of the compresed air from between sides of the lasted shoe and related side portions of the last. While the left and right front pad assemblies 136 and 138 are exerting a constrictive pressure against the exterior sides of the lasted shoe, the buildup of interior air pressure against the foot contacting surface of the shoe continues until the heel portion of shoe 10 is urged upwardly relative to the last heel 32. In order to prevent any loss of interval pressure during this stage of the delasting operation, the left and right rear pad assemblies 206 and 2618 continue to press inwardly against the exterior sides of the lasted shoe 10 while rotating upwardly with the heel portion 2 2 of shoe in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6. In effect, the pad assemblies form a seal between the sides of the lasted shoe and last, however it is not essential that the seal be complete. It is suflicient if the pad assemblies restrict escape of the air to the degree such that the pneumatic pressure between the heel of the shoe and the last is great enough to cause separation of the shoe and last.

Micro-switches 244 and 246 are then opened in accordance with the sequence of operation illustrated in FIG- URE l2. Valves 258 and 262 close, terminating the internal air blast and retracting the clamping mechanisms 64 and 66 to a remote position away from the delasted shoe. Micro-switch 242 is then opened by timer motor 240 which causes relay 248 to open. However, relay 250 cannot open as long as the electrical circuit controlled microswitch 58 is kept electrically closed by the actuator rod 212, as illustrated in FIGURE 11. Until the last 30 has been completely removed from heel pin 50, the delasting cycle cannot be reinitiated, even though trigger microswitch 60 may be repeatedly actuated.

After the operator breaks the last and removes the delasted shoe, removal of last 30 from pin 50 opens the load sensing micro-switch 58 and unlatches the relay 250 interlock which resets the control unit 220 to automatically function whenever another lasted shoe is loaded into the delasting station 100.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for removing footwear from a last comprising in combination means for supporting lasted footwear, means for introducing a fluid charge between said last and said lasted footwear, and means for exerting an external pressure against said lasted footwear to restrict leakage of said fluid charge between said last and said lasted footwear during removal thereof.

2. Apparatus for removing footwear from a last comprising in combination, means for supporting lasted footwear, means for exerting fluid presure between said last and said lasted footwear, and means movable from a remote position into engagement with the lasted footwear to constrict the latter against said last and reduce loss of said fluid pressure by leakage between said last and said footwear.

3. Apparatus for removing footwear from a last comprising in combination, means for supporting lasted footwear, means for exerting fluid pressure between said last and said lasted footwear, and means movable from a remote position into engagement with the lasted footwear to restrict expansion thereof by said fluid pressure during removal from said last.

4. Apparatus for removing a shoe or the like from a last comprising in combination, means for supporting a lasted shoe in position for delasting, means for applying pressure on external portions of the shoe to urge said shoe portions in engagement with the last, and means for introducing a fluid charge to a bottom portion of the last to separate said bottom portion of the last from a corresponding portion of the shoe.

5. Apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein said means for applying pressure on portions of the shoe includes resilient pads engageable with opposite side portions of the shoe.

6. Apparatus for removing a shoe or the like from a last comprising in combination, means for supporting a lasted shoe in position for delasting, clamping means for engaging opposite side portions of the lasted shoe to urge said side portions of the shoe against the last, and means for introducing a fluid charge to the heel portion of the last to separate the heel portion of the last from the heel portion of the shoe.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said clamping means includes at least one pair of opposed clamping members movable into and out of engagement with opposite side portions of the lasted shoe.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said clamping means includes a second pair of opposed clamping members mounted for movement into and out of engagement with opposite side portions of the lasted shoe at locations spaced longitudinally from said first pair of clamping members.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said pair of clamping members includes a pair of resilient pressure pads engageable with the opposite side portions of the shoe.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said second pair of opposed clamping members includes a pair of opposed resilient pressure pads engageable with opposite side portions of the shoe.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said pads are pivotally connected to said clamping members for movement about an axis genenally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lasted shoe.

12. Apparatus defined in claim 9 further including a pair of hinge members pivotally connected to each clamping member for pivotal movement about an axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shoe and wherein each pressure pad is mounted on a pair of associated hinge members.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 further including a pair of hinge members pivotally connected to each clamping member for pivotal movement about an axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lasted shoe and wherein each pressure pad is mounted on a pair of associated hinge members.

14. Apparatus defined in claim 8 further including spring means maintaining the clamping members on each side of the shoe in longitudinal alignment.

15. Apparatus defined in claim 14 further including means mounting one of said pair of clamping members for movement in planes generally parallel to the sides of the shoe against the bias of said spring means upon separation of the last from the shoe by said fluid charge.

16. Apparatus for removing a last from a shoe or the like comprising in combination, means for supporting a lasted shoe in position for delasting, clamping members positioned on opposite sides of the shoe, means mounting said clamping members for movement into and out of engagement with opposite side portions of the shoe, and means for introducing a charge of gas between the bottom portion of the last and a corresponding portion of the shoe for separating the same when said clamping members are engaged against the opposite side portions of the shoe.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said means mounting said clamping members for movement includes a support, a pair of arms pivotally connected to said support for movement between first and second positions corresponding to said positions of the clamping members, said arms each being operatively connected to said clamping members respectively for moving the same between said positions thereof.

18. Apparatus as defined in claim 17 further including means for actuating said arms between said first and second positions thereof including a pair of push rods pivotall connected atone of their ends to said arms respectively, a cross member pivotally connected to the opposite ends of said push rods respectively and means for reciprocating said cross members.

19. Apparatus for removing a last from a shoe or the like comprising in combination, means for supporting a lasted shoe in position for delasting, a pair of opposed clamping members, means mounting said clamping members for movement into and out of engagement with respect to the opposite side portions of said shoe, means for introducing a fluid charge between the heel portion of the shoe and a corresponding portion of the last to separate the same, and means mounting said clamping members for movement in planes generally parallel to the opposite side portions of the shoe for permitting said clamping members to move with the shoe upon separation from the last.

20. Apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said last mentioned mounting means includes a trunnion member, a hinge member mounted .to said trunnion member for rotation about an axis extending generally transversely to the shoe, a second hinge member connected to said first hinge member for pivotal movement about a second axis extending generally perpendicular to said first axis.

21. Apparatus as defined in claim 20 further including second and third hinge members pivotally connected to said first hinge member for pivotal movement about axes parallel to said second axis.

22. Apparatus as defined in claim 21 wherein said clamping members include a resilient pressure pad fixed to said second and third hinge members to be engageable with a side portion of the shoe.

23. Apparatus for removing a last from a shoe comprising in combination means for supporting a lasted shoe in position for delasting, means for clamping opposite side portions of the shoe against the last to restrain expansion of said side portions of the shoe, means for introducing a fluid charge between the bottom portion of the last and a corresponding bottom portion of the shoe to separate the same, and means for actuating said clamping means against said side portions of the shoe in a timed sequence after said lasted shoe is mounted in said delasting position and before said fluid charge in initiated.

24. Apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein said last recited means includes a timer and a switch actuated by placing the lasted shoe in said delasting position.

25. Apparatus :as defined in claim 24 wherein said means for operating said clamping means includes an air cylin- 5 der and means for supplying and exhausting said air cylinder, and wherein there is provided means for bypassing a portion of the air supplied to said cylinder for use as the fluid charge.

1 0 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS- 2,093,435 9/1937 Grush 12-15.1 3,091,787 6/1963 Hawkes 12---15.1 3,107,354 10/1963 Reid et al. 12 -15.1

PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner. 

